2017 BMW X1 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 76,386 MOT tests, the 2017 BMW X1 recorded a 91.0% pass rate. That is 2.8 percentage points better than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 11.8%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.4%) and lighting & signalling (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,044 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.4% versus 5.8%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (9.3% vs 7.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.4% | 3,395 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 2,611 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.1% | 1,593 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.4% | 1,086 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.3% | 1,017 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 302 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 2,044 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,337 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 966 |
| 4 | Washers | 908 |
| 5 | Wipers | 842 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 599 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.3% | 17,832 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.6% | 8,070 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.8% | 5,920 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 3,095 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 2,398 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 649 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 16,349 | 5.8% |
| 30-60k | 37,199 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 17,433 | 11.4% |
| 90-120k | 4,333 | 13.3% |
| 120-150k | 866 | 14.2% |
| 150k+ | 201 | 14.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 62,993 | 9.3% |
| Petrol | 13,393 | 7.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,269 | 7.2% |
| 2022 | 15,101 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 15,277 | 9.0% |
| 2024 | 15,307 | 9.9% |
| 2025 | 15,432 | 11.1% |
What to check before buying a 2017 X1
On a 2017 X1, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2017 BMW X1s pass their MOT?
91.0% of the 76,386 2017 BMW X1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 BMW X1?
Tyres, recorded in 4.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.4%).
Does the 2017 X1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.8% in the 0-30k band to 14.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 76,386 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.